THIS BOOK OF THE LAW SHALL NOT DEPART OUT OF THY MOUTH; BUT THOU SHALT MEDITATE THEREIN DAY AND NIGHT

Joshua faced a daunting and difficult task. He was no longer Moses’ ‘minister’ and assistant; he was now Moses’ successor and replacement. It would be difficult to overestimate the importance of Moses to Israel. For forty years he had been their leader in all religious, judicial, military and domestic matters. But now Moses was dead and to Joshua fell the demanding work of leading Israel over Jordan into the Promised Land.

This was no small undertaking! Humanly speaking, Joshua was now responsible for the welfare of upwards of two million people - for their direction, protection and supplies. And he knew that, once in Canaan, they would confront ‘nations greater and mightier than thyself, cities great and fenced up to heaven, a people great and tall, the children of the Anakims’, Deut. 9. 1-2. There they would come up against six nations and no fewer than thirty one kings, Josh. 12. 7-24. But Joshua knew also that, in due course, he would have to function, not only as military com­mander, but as God’s appointed administrator to ‘divide’ the land among the various tribes. Indeed, the whole of chapters 14 through to 21 are devoted to tracing the boundaries of the tribal inheritances. At the time, Joshua faced a massive and intimidat­ing assignment! But the ‘God of all encouragement’, 2 Cor. 1. 3 JND, knew all this and graciously encouraged His servant with repeated promises of His presence, vv. 5, 9. Yet, sandwiched between these promises, the Lord issued His command that Joshua should give His word first place (i) in his mouth, (ii) in his mind and (iii) in his manner of life. It should ‘not depart out of thy mouth’; meaning either in being read half out loud to himself or in conversation with others. But God’s word should not only be on his lips but in his thoughts; ‘thou shalt meditate therein day and night’. God knew that Joshua would be busy - no doubt busier by far than any of us are - and yet He directed him to meditation, not as some occasional lux­ury, but as a constant, regular duty. And this as the means to a holy life; ‘that thou mayest observe to do’.